Motorists’ accounts: How bribery rules the roads in Tanzania

The drivers are often forced to give bribes to avoid fines or penalties for minor infractions, they say, adding that corruption has become so deeply ingrained in the city that it is nearly impossible for drivers to escape.

Taxi driver Ayoub Hassan, who has been driving in the city for over a decade, says the demands for bribes from the traffic police have become increasingly common in recent years.

"I frequently get stopped for some minor traffic violation, and instead of issuing me a receipt, the officers demand money on the spot in exchange for letting me go. It's frustrating and unfair, but I have no choice to avoid further troubles," he explains.

“It's hard for any driver to choose a fine of Sh30,000 while they can just offer Sh10,000 to the officer and be given a chance to continue with his trip,” he says.

Mr Hassan recounts an incident where he was pulled over by a traffic officer for allegedly running a red light. Despite insisting that he had not violated any traffic laws, the officer demanded money for letting him go without a fine.

Fearing the repercussions of refusing to comply, Mr Hassan reluctantly handed over the money and was allowed to continue on his way.

“We give money not because we don’t know it is wrong, but we don’t have any other better way to deal with it,” he reveals.

Similarly, Cleopatra Jumbe, an entrepreneur who lives in Bagamoyo and works in the city centre, has also fallen victim to the corrupt practices of the city's traffic police.

"Most drivers are used to corrupt traffic officers. The officers are just too good at threatening to the extent that you feel like bribing them to get out of that situation,” he says.

Mr Jumbe says it's frustrating to know that the officers sometimes prey on innocent drivers just to line their pockets.

The prevalence of bribery not only erodes public trust in law enforcement but also perpetuates a culture of impunity where those in power can exploit their authority for personal gain.

Commuter bus driver, Mr Michael Mashaka, says he must always have a portion in his daily budget to give traffic police whenever he is stopped.

“It’s not even a secret nowadays, everyone sees how bus conductors give traffic police Sh2,000 whenever they're stopped. I think we now see it as part of our jobs but I don’t think it is right to ingrain the seeds of corruption in our country,” he says.

A commuter bus conductor in the city, Ms Swaumu Rashid, says that it’s routine for them to give bribes to the traffic police on any trip they got stopped at.

“It’s our choice to spend a lot of time talking to police or simply give them Sh2,000 and continue with the trip. As you know this business is so competitive that most of us choose to give out the Sh2,000 instead of spending half an hour negotiating with the officer,” she said.

However, Tanzania’s traffic chief, Mr Ramadhan Ng’azi, says that the traffic police are committed to fighting corruption on the roads and ensuring road safety for all citizens.

He says officers work tirelessly to uphold integrity and professionalism in their duties.

“We also actively engage with the community to raise awareness about the dangers of corruption and the importance of reporting any suspicious activities. We encourage citizens to report any signs of corruption they encounter, as their cooperation is essential in our efforts to maintain integrity and accountability within our ranks,” he said.

“With the support of the public, we are determined to create a safer and more transparent environment on the roads of Tanzania, where corruption has no place and everyone can travel with confidence and peace of mind,” he added.